Schuylkill Elementary School students named finalists in WHYY i like this book

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Andrew Carranti, a third-grade Schuylkill Elementary School student, and Gracelyn Andes, a second-grade Schuylkill Elementary School student, were finalists in WHYY’s fourth annual WHYY I Like This Book program.

Andrew is featured in a WHYY-TV spot in which he discusses why she enjoys Angelo by David Macaulay.

WHYY has also received a grant from the Verizon Foundation to support the fifth year of the WHYY I Like This Book, which promotes a lifelong love of reading for K–12 students throughout the Delaware Valley. The Verizon Foundation supported the first four years of the program. This year, WHYY received 625 applications from students attending more than 50 regional schools.

WHYY held a reception Dec. 10 to celebrate student finalists who participated in WHYY I Like This Book, which inspires young readers to share opinions about their favorite books. The grant enables WHYY to produce a series of video spots featuring students.

Verizon Foundation’s partnership with WHYY’s Educational Programs and Services in support of WHYY I Like This Book fosters its dedication to fighting illiteracy in America and its commitment to reaching children who may otherwise not enjoy such a learning experience. The grant will allow WHYY to continue the WHYY I Like This Book initiative to promote a love of and appreciation for lifelong reading for youths from diverse backgrounds. The program reaches Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania; Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties in New Jersey; and all of Delaware.

“Verizon is proud to support WHYY’s program that encourages young children and their families to read and learn,” said William B. Petersen, vice president, general counsel and secretary for Verizon Wireless and WHYY board member. “Verizon is a champion for education as it provides the skills needed across the lifespan, from early childhood through adulthood, to participate, compete and be successful in the 21st century. WHYY I Like This Book is an innovative program that engages students from K–12 to share their favorite book by sending in a review and getting the chance to be on TV — combining reading, learning and fun.”

“We continue to receive an extraordinary response from students for this program,” said Jennifer Wheeler, manager of WHYY’s Educational Programs and Services. “Verizon’s additional support will enable us to produce more video spots so that the students will be able to encourage their peers to continue reading and learning.”

Over the four years of the WHYY I Like This Book, WHYY has received more than 5,750 applications from students attending about 750 schools wishing to participate in the WHYY I Like This Book program.